ADL Expresses Concern Over New Greek Minister with History of Anti-Semitic Remarks

New York, NY, June 28, 2013 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed concern over the appointment of Adonis Georgiadis as Greece’s newly appointed Minister of Health, due to a history of troubling remarks about Jews and his public promotion of an anti-Semitic book.

According to reports, Mr. Georgiadis has said in the past that “all major banks belong to the Jews” and that “the Jewish Lobby” would determine the fate of Greece’s foreign debt. He has also extensively promoted the anti-Semitic diatribe, "The Jews, the whole truth" written by Konstantinos Plevris, a prominent author and self-proclaimed anti-Semite.

“At a time when anti-Semitic speech and Holocaust denial continue to occur regularly in public and political discourse in Greece and as Golden Dawn’s leaders openly espouse anti-Semitism to stoke hatred and fear while their party is rising in popularity, the elevation of a politician who is also known to have promoted anti-Semitism is troubling,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “Our concern is heightened by the ongoing failure to enact a stringent anti-racism bill despite the government’s public commitment to do so.”

In a letter to Prime Minster Antonis Samaras, ADL urged the Prime Minster to reconsider the appointment of Mr. Georgiadis and ensure that anti-racism legislation is enacted and enforced.

The League has previously voiced concern about government appointments of individuals, including Mr. Georgiadis, who had made anti-Semitic remarks and urged the Greek government to resolve differences within its coalition and swiftly pass new anti-racism legislation.

ADL is the world’s leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education, and fighting hate online, ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.